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Peter Mansbridge has announced his retirement after 28 years as chief correspondent and desk anchor of CBC’s The National. Mansbridge, 68, told viewers on Sept. 5 that he will step down after anchoring special Canada Day coverage on July 1, 2017. Mansbridge started with the CBC at age 19 at the local CBC radio station in Churchill, Manitoba after the station manager heard his voice over the airport intercom. After a stop at CBC radio in Winnipeg, Mansbridge joined CBC television in 1972, holding posts in Saskatchewan and Ottawa before taking over the anchor chair from Knowlton Nash in 1988. See the announcement here.
Kevin Newman has been named host and managing editor of CTV’s W5. Newman, who joined W5 as a correspondent in 2012, begins hosting on Oct. 1 following the program’s 50th anniversary special on Sept. 24. Lloyd Robertson, who has hosted since 2011, will continue as a special correspondent. According to CTV, W5 is North America’s longest-running television documentary series, on-air since 1966.
Jim MacMullin has retired after 15 years as President of Acadia Broadcasting and 43 years in the business. He began with Acadia/(Irving) in 2001 as GM for CHSJ/CHWV (The Wave) Saint John; CHTD (The Tide) St. Stephen; and CKBW Bridgewater. During his time at the helm, MacMullin grew the company from two to 14 stations. Before Acadia, he was GM at CKCW/CFQM/CHOY Moncton and, before that, GM at CJCW Sussex. MacMullin announced his retirement in October 2015 and was celebrated on August 25 at the Union Club in Saint John, NB.
Reza Saiphoo will become director news technology at Corus effective Sept. 15. He will be responsible for support, maintenance, sustainment and lifecycle asset management of the 24/7 news production system within all Global Television production centers, stations and news bureaus. Saiphoo’s background includes being Corus/Shaw Media integrations project manager, senior manager engineering with Dome Productions and director of operations at Bell Media’s Masonic Temple facility Toronto.
Blake Carter, after three years as co-host of Blake & Wylde in the Afternoon at KiSS 92.5 (CKIS-FM) Toronto is no longer with the station. Her background includes being evening host at 104.5 CHUM FM Toronto, morning show co-host at 90.3 AMP (CKMP-FM) Calgary and morning show co-host at Wired 96.3 (CFWD-FM) Saskatoon.
Eric Stafford, GM at the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group stations in Calgary, is no longer with JPBG. He joined CHUM’s Energy 105.5 (CKCE-FM) Calgary in 2009 after a 12-year run as GM at The Bear Ottawa. The CHUM station was bought by Bell Media, and was later purchased by JPBG as one of the stations Bell Media had to divest in the 2013 Astral/Bell Media deal. Stafford remained with the new owners and, in 2014, saw his duties increase to also include being GM at JPBG’s new Calgary sister station, The Peak (CHPK-FM), now WILD 95.3 (CKWD-FM).
Ben Lucas is now an account manager with Bell Media Calgary as of Aug. 2. Lucas arrived from Rogers Winnipeg where he spent more than 16 years selling A-Channel Manitoba which later became Citytv, under three different owners: Craig, CHUM, and then Rogers.
Jim Toth has joined TSN 1290 (CFRW) Winnipeg on the Big Show weekday mornings as of Tuesday, Sept. 6 with Troy Westwood & Brandon Rewucki. Previous gigs include sports reporter at 680 CJOB Winnipeg and sports reporter/producer at Shaw TV.
Winnipeg’s Power 97 (CJKR-FM) has revealed its on-air lineup after flipping formats from 97.5 BIG FM last month. Starting on Sept. 6 was morning show host Joe Aiello (who had been hosting mornings at 97.5 BIG FM) and newcomer Randy Parker. Mid-days will be handled by Meredith Geddes who comes most recently from CFOX 99.3 FM Vancouver where she’s been mid-day host since 2015. Also from CFOX where he was evening host, Craig Stone takes over the afternoon drive show. Power evenings will be hosted by Fearless Fred Kennedy from 102.1 The Edge (CFNY-FM) in Toronto.
Kevin Becker is the new PD at Newcap’s Up 93.1 (CIHI-FM) Fredericton. Becker moved from Rawlco’s Soft Rock 97.7 (CHUP-FM) Calgary where he was an advertising consultant.
Larry Mellott is now PD at CJOY Guelph while Scot Turner adds PD responsibilities at Magic 106.1 (CIMJ-FM) Guelph. He’s also PD at Corus Kitchener. The appointments follow the end-of-August retirement of Operations Manager Ron Fitzpatrick at the two Guelph stations.
